Home at last! Toronto Argos host Winnipeg Bombers in home opener

There’s no place like home! The road warrior Argonauts return to Toronto this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. for their home opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Rogers Centre. Starting the 2011 season with 3 games on the road has made the 1-2 Argos long for home where the fans truly make all the difference. Saturday’s rematch with the Bombers will be Fan Appreciation Day, presented by the Toronto Sun.

As part of Fan Appreciation Day, the first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a Toronto Argonauts "All Hands On Deck" rally towel. There will be quarterly giveaways for entire rows throughout the game through the Ultimate Fan Contest. Perhaps most exciting of all, one person who attends the Argos home opener will become the first person to be guaranteed a pair of tickets to the 100th Grey Cup game. One lucky fan of the Double Blue will be chosen at the game to receive the first pair of tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the Pre-Game Tailgate Party. Festivities begin at 1:30 p.m. outside of Gate 11 at Rogers Centre with inflatables, a licensed area with musical entertainment and a Marc Angelo Foods barbeque. Double Blue supporters can get their photo with the cheerleaders at the Toronto Sun cheerleader photo wall while Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) will have demos of select vehicles. Additionally, Jones Soda will be sampling product outside Gates 5 and 6.

Members of the Canadian Forces will be honoured at the home opener. The national anthem will be performed by the 32 Canadian Brigade Group Band and The Navy Flag Party from HMCS York and coin toss duties will be handled by the Scotiabank Kid Captain, as well as Commander Brigadier-General Fred Lewis and Chief Warrant Officer Stan Stapleford. Members of the Canadian Forces will form the tunnels for player introductions and more than 700 members of the military and their families are expected to attend the game.

As Toronto’s #1 community team, the Toronto Argonauts always want to acknowledge the work of others in our community. Newly-retired Argo Adriano "The Kissing Bandit" Belli will be recognized for his tireless community work through his Big Kiss Fund prior to kickoff. David McGuire, who sustained a serious brain injury in 2005, is currently running a marathon a day across Canada, from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Victoria, B.C. in partnership with Braintrust Canada and a Run to Remember. David will be saluted for his efforts to raise funds and awareness for brain injuries at halftime.

After the game, the See You on the Field returns. Fans can come down on the field to meet many of the Toronto Argonauts players and cheerleaders for autographs and photos. Following See You On The Field, supporters are invited to head over to the Official Post-Game Party at Jack Astor’s, 144 Front Street West, to say hi to some of your favourite Argos players and the 2011 Argos Cheerleaders, presented by the Toronto Sun.